Life After Phil

[Socks]

So we’re in the triangle offense this season and the next two while Phil is around. For argument’s sake, let’s assume he does not re-sign after that (age, health, etc.). If Phil leaves after year 3 we have the option of either finding a coach who sticks with the triangle or going with a different offensive system. Given Phil is really the only coach out there using the triangle, we’ll probably have to use a new system. But will the players we have at that point in time really work in a different system?

If Phil stays true to his past he’ll look to surround Kobe with guys who fit the triangle. Those guys tend to be older intelligent veteran players with one or two specific skills who accept their roles, play good team D, and lack athletic ability – ie Ron Harper, Brian Shaw, Paxson, Kerr, Fox, etc. He’s already started down that path this year with McKie, who fits that profile perfectly (except for the fact he hasn’t played). When Phil left the Bulls and the Lakers, each team was stuck with essentially a roster full of scrubs, because the value of those role players is amplified within the triangle and very diminished without it. Sure, MJ and Shaq leaving hurt those teams a lot, but really the rest of the guys on each of those teams (except Kobe) lost a lot of their value because they didn’t have the triangle to rely on.

3 years out we’ll have an older Kobe/Odom and a hopefully heavily contributing Bynum and a roster full of scrubs – close to today’s situation. Outside of the triangle in today’s NBA you need a ton of athleticism to compete – look at Detroit, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, etc.

So the question is: When looking to acquire new players today, do we lean towards players that fit the right profile for the triangle or towards more athletic players who might fit better into a motion or pick and roll kind of offense? Ideally you have players like a Marion, KG, or Kobe where it doesn’t matter what system they’re in, but I’m talking about supporting players here. Really this boils down to whether we’re trying to win a championship with Phil or is Phil helping us rebuild and then handing off the torch? What do you guys think?

[KBandKB]

We just need a player who will listen to Phil or whoever the coach and who will run his plays correctly.

[iml84myd8s]

Be very careful. I just posted a thread about how B. Scott might make a great Lakers head coach some day after Phil retires (again).

It was thrown into the Chicken Little, Piss and Moan section. Therefore, you shouldn't talk about what might happen after Phil is gone. It's considered Pissing and Moaning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bounty]

BShaw will be our next coach. he is a tri. guy. PJ will be in the front office. It will be the same o sames o. We just need talent
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Lakers Tickets

[Walter Sobchak]

The Lakers should fire Phil and trade for KG.

Do it Mitch!!!!


In all seriousness I think if Phil has success with the Lakers in these three years (and I think he will), he'll stick around to try to get them to the championship and this will probably be moot. I would guess if he splits after this contract then it's cause the Lakers are going nowhere anyway. Plus, that would be in the summer of 2008 and if LA hasn't signed any big FAs in 2007 then they'll probably be looking to make major changes that year anyway. Also, if that's the case, there won't be a lot of players under contract bogging down the roster.
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"People don't think it be like it is, but it do." - Oscar Gamble

Just a reminder folks: "a lot" is two words. So is "no one".

[LakerJam]

I think it's halfway through Phil's first season and he may well be extended if the team is contending by his 3rd year. In any event, you mention that by Phil's 3rd year we'll have Kobe/Odom and a more mature Bynum, but you forget that we'll also have a max contract caliber player or 2 lesser very good ones by then. That would definitely put us in contention and I see no way Phil leaves that on the table when he wants to win another ring so badly (and he does).

I suppose my answer then to your question then is that, no, I don't think Phil is just helping us rebuild with the goal of handing the torch to anyone. I think HE fully believes that having Kobe puts us 1 player away from championship caliber team, so he's training the supporting cast to be ready for the time when we can sign that 2nd star to put next to Kobe and Odom.

[LakerJam]

[Bergamotichek]

[Exick]

[iml84myd8s]

[lakers0505]

[Sage_10]

[angel]

What about Kareem?
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"Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." ~~Martin Luther King Jr.~~

[KingKobeDubbz]

Pretty damn sad. Let's not think so pessimistic.

[sodapoppenski]

I think with whomever our max-contract-type addition is, we have a shot
at legit contention by Phil's 3rd year.

Add that guy to Kobe, Lamar, Bynum and Mihm, and factor in the two
years of tri-experience they all start with at that point, and I feel pretty
good about us.

In other words, I leave it (mostly) in Phil's hands. Triangle-fit type players
are perfectly fine with me.

Maybe put some weight into any MAJOR peice being added (like the max
contract addition player) as being a player who can play in either system.

[LkrsOvrMia]

[Drifts]

after Phil retires...Lakers should get Rick Carlisle. The man is a stud coach.
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"Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money & position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold & contain life, but the quality of life doesn't change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

[CrimsonLaker]

Coach K! For real, man. There is no better recruiter than Coach K. He'll hopefully get tired of Duke once he realizes there are no more championships to be won once reddick leaves.

[venturalakersfan]

[NoMoreGame7s]

[Drifts]